diff --git a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
index 66d3900..a07f16d 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ endif
 # (except for tools).
 #
 ifneq ($(DEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE),$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE))
-       CROSS_COMPILE ?= CROSS_COMPILE=$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)-
+       CROSS_COMPILE ?= $(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)-
 endif

 abidir         := $(CURDIR)/$(DEBIAN)/abi/$(release)-$(revision)/$(arch)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ conc_level          = -j$(CONCURRENCY_LEVEL)

 # target_flavour is filled in for each step
 kmake = make ARCH=$(build_arch) \
-       $(CROSS_COMPILE) \
+       CROSS_COMPILE=$(CROSS_COMPILE) \
        EXTRAVERSION=-$(abinum)-$(target_flavour) \
        CONFIG_DEBUG_SECTION_MISMATCH=y SUBLEVEL=$(SUBLEVEL) \
        KBUILD_BUILD_VERSION="$(uploadnum)" \